Hannah is married to John, a police officer, when he’s killed the man convicted of killing him is imprisoned in her home; a very strange concept and one which I had to google to make sure it doesn’t happen anywhere! The story follows their relationship from getting used to living under the same roof to how this evolves. Hannah wants to find out the truth about her husbands murder and is fearless in uncovering what her husband had been working on and with whom. There were a number of points in this book which literally made me gasp out loud at what was happening, the pace was fast and there is never a dull moment. The author has a wonderful way of portraying all of the range of emotions so well, as a reader you can feel it all. This kept me reading late into the night and I wanted to keep reading to know what was going to happen. I enjoyed the ending too, there was a bit of a twist and I very much enjoy a book that keeps me guessing and doesn’t give things away easily. I very much recommend this.

Set in a world where convicted criminals are to live in cages in their victim’s homes, to show them who they have hurt and to try to rehabilitate them, as well as saving the government some money. The book opens with cake maker Hannah awaiting the arrival of Jem, the person convicted of killing her police officer husband. The cage has been set up in the room where Hannah spends the most time, her Kitchen. Hannah doesn’t want Jem in her house. She doesn’t want to spend time in the same room as the man who killed her husband, even though Jem has stated he wasn’t guilty the whole way through his trial and is still protesting his innocence to Hannah. She is scared of him but is unwilling to let him side that side of her. Over time as Jem protests his innocence, he provides Hannah with information about her husband, which makes her dig deeper into his life, a life she never knew he lived. What was he hiding? And by searching for the truth has Hannah now placed herself in danger too? Wow, I mean could you imagine having to spend every day in the same house as the person who has violated you or someone you love? Having to talk to them, feed them, they are there constantly reminding you of the horrid ordeal in your life. It is unthinkable, but author Deborah O’Connor brings this world to life with her all too realistic take on a sham government that cuts costs by making people have to live like this. Hannah thought she had a perfect life, the life of a police officer’s wife. Happy and content, living her dream in a place where million-pound mansions are the norm but her husband’s job came with some perks and so she lives amongst them until that fateful night her husband was murdered. Now she is living a nightmare, one where she has to live in the same house as his murderer. I loved the build-up in the multi-layered plot that was filled with twists that kept me engrossed and eager to find the truth. It was fascinating to watch Hannah go from this mild and meek woman to a woman determined to uncover the truth and find out about her husband’s secret life. As I began The Captive I was unsure how it was labelled a thriller, but as the book progresses is became darker and more sinister than I imagined. The tension rose and the pace quickened. Such an amazing read, one that has left me breathless and thankful that the world within Deborah O’Connor’s mind isn’t real.

what a great book!!!! i loved it such a deep and twisting thriller, definitely kept me on edge throughout the whole book, it has so many twists and turns and it is a very phycological book. once you start reading this book you just don't want to put it down. i read it quite quickly and it was a bit fast paced. it was definitely gripping and interesting but i have also read a bit of other similar books to this which circle the same idea basically so it was the most original in my opinion. i love these thrillers when once you start reading you cant put it down and the amount of suspense the book has just makes you read it faster. you just need to carry on reading because of how tense it is and you just feel like you need to find out what happens, it is a really quick read but a very good book, i enjoyed it a lot, definitely one of the best books i have read!

Imagine a world where you were forced to live with the monster who took your loved one from you... because that's Hannah's reality. When her husband is heartbreakingly murdered in the middle of the night, Hannah is forced to host the prison cell for his murderer - Jem. The cell is small and in the heart of her home, the kitchen, where she is forced to see Jem every day. However, it's not long before Jem starts riddling doubts in her mind, making her see a bigger picture... was he really the one who murdered her beloved? The Captive offered a very unique plot from the getgo, that grips you and pulls you in. The idea of having to live with the person who tore your world apart is both scary and interesting. It offered a very new thought cycle to dive down as I read the book - could I do it? And more importantly, is anyone safe while doing it? I was constantly on edge as to whether Jem would break free and murder Hannah, and found myself anxious for her throughout the book. An important part of any thriller is the characters and how fleshed out they are, it helps make the story even grittier. The Captive offered a variety of different characters who all impacted the plot and subplots in such a large way. Each character was important and well developed, without being too transparent that they gave away the bigger picture. Overall, I really enjoyed The Captive and what Deborah O'Connor created within the book. For the first time in a while, I was truly shocked by the plot of a thriller. It constantly kept me guessing and also created a large amount of talking points for me to bring up with friends...

Right from the start this book has you in its thrall, hook, line and sinker! Hannah Cavey’s husband John, a Met detective, is murdered. The current system of incarceration involves prisoners being placed in cells in the victims homes as part of a restorative justice programme with several rings of security. Jem Dahlin is convicted though professes innocence and duly arrives at Hannah’s house. The concept! How utterly appalling, it blows your mind that an innocent party has to not only confront but feed those convicted! Can you imagine anything worse? Right from the start Hannah’s nerves are understandably jangling and mine along with her! The concept feels original and as the clever plot unfolds Hannah has to start playing detective herself as various discoveries make her realise that things are just not adding up. It’s absolutely gripping as you go on a dangerous and nightmarish journey which reveals lies, corruption, wicked betrayal, organised crime and murder. It’s a very dark and intense plot full of twists which keep you immersed in the storytelling. The finale is very exciting with some jaw drooping and unexpected shocks as it reaches a very satisfying conclusion. Overall, I enjoyed this well written thriller very much. The whole thing from start to finish sends shivers up your spine and you recoil in horror at the thought of a prisoner glowering at you 24/7! Highly recommended to fans of this genre. Thanks Deborah for sending this amazing book!!